christopher-77 Reviews

The Soloist (2009)

An Unremarkable Story

[5/10 · 12 August 2009]

I can't give this a low, low score because it is a technically proficient movie - good camera, good lighting, and realistic environments and dialog.

Unfortunately, the script was utterly boring.

It's clear the writer and director were trying to make a connection with the audience, and cause them to well up with tears for our poor, afflicted main character (Jaime Foxx). But, when the cresendo came and the climax passed, I was just playing mental gymnastics wondering "When will I start caring?" It's yet another example of a great movie affected by an un-remarkable and un-moving script. Too bad, I really wanted to like this one...

Take care, ... Christopher

College (2008)

What do you expect from two first-time writers?

[3/10 · 26 October 2008]

This movie relies too heavily on nudity and hot chicks who are scripted as being "easy". I was in a frat in college - a real party frat, too - and it wasn't anything like this.

* There aren't A-List celebrity musicians playing at the frat party. * Girls don't randomly flash each guy as he walks through the door. * There aren't topless waitresses serving perfect martinis on a tray.

I feel like this is some 40-year-old's idea of what he *wished* his frat life is like. I'm not even sure if the writer was actually ever in a fraternity.

The only reason I gave this movie any points is because from a technical standpoint the lighting, camera-work and set design are okay. Honestly, the production wasn't bad - but the script SUCKED. If they cut their naked girls budget by 25% and spent the money on another scriptwriter instead, this could have been a decent movie. Instead they went with two first-time writers that must have just gotten their WGA cards a few weeks ago.

I hope they try and improve their skills! Don't give up after one bad script - maybe it was the studio's fault.

The Happening (2008)

Better than Lady in the Water, but gives away twist too early...

[5/10 · 1 September 2008]

M. Night is being lambasted about this film; I won't say this film doesn't have a ton of flaws (believe me, it does), but it's clear to me that he is on a tract to duplicate the successes of Alfred Hitchcock. It is obvious Hitchcock is a huge influence... nay, a source... for much of M. Night's experimental film-making.

Unfortunately, he's turning off a lot of people with this style of film-making.

Let's just get it out of the way now - the idea is unique but the screen writing is atrocious. This film needed a healthy dose of panic. If the film-makers had injected 1/10th of the panic-stricken dialog from the movie 'Cloverfield', this film could easily have been a frightening thriller.

Instead it just plods along delivering cheesy overly-dramatic lines that are seriously out-of-context.

The actors aren't panicked when they should naturally be, and often times it appears they are just standing around waiting for their fate rather than running off in the other direction, away from the terror that is coming after them.

I can see where M. Night was going with this, but I honestly think the studio should have called for a re-write. M. Night is great, but clearly he needed help on the dialog and character actions of this film.

Now let me get to the worst part - M. Night gave away the 'twist' almost 25% into the movie! From any other director I don't mind, but I've come to expect a 'surprise' from M. Night - kind of like, waiting for the jack-in-the-box to spring open, even though you know it's coming. Unfortunately the 'twist' was cited early on, which left me thinking 'ok, now what?' until the credits rolled.

I give M. Night a 5 out of 10, because it seemed like he genuinely tried to do something magical here, but just missed the mark. Next time, Mr. Shamalan, PLEASE accept the help of some gifted WGA member, even if you throw out most of their rewrites.

The Last Kiss (2006)

Melodramatic crud... not a comedy.

[5/10 · 25 June 2008]

I'm only giving this movie a 5, because it has a reasonably high production value and cinematography, etc. But, the movie was marketed as a comedy about relationships, and it ends up being a soap opera about relationships that are failing.

After being through my own breakups in my life, I really didn't want to watch a movie centering around 4 breakups. But even worse was the yelling; there are plenty of good movies that have breakups that are sensibly acted and the actors aren't simply yelling at each other. Sure, I realize emotions are high in these situations and they are trying to be "true to life" but it was just overkill.

In all, I felt like the writer recently went through a divorce and a custody battle, and was just trying to get their feelings out on screen. It was simply depressing.

10 Items or Less (2006)

After this, I enjoyed Lost in Translation again

[3/10 · 26 January 2008]

After I watched this movie, I came to IMDb and read some of the reviews, which compared it to Lost In Translation LITE. When I read that I immediately could see the reviewers point.

This movie was a poor attempt at a similar theme. Interestingly, the format of the movie is nearly identical, but the PACING is incredibly different. "10 Items" rushes the viewer through the 1-day time line of the movie, whereas the better-planned "Lost In..." seems to stretch out over a few long days.

I'm sure some people will see this because it has Morgan Freeman, and will be disappointed. It seems his better roles now-a-days are supporting roles in big blockbusters, rather than leading roles in sub-$10mil limited release movies and indie films.

The Contract (2006)

Very poorly written dialogue makes it unbearable...

[5/10 · 7 January 2008]

This is proof that an otherwise good movie can be hampered by not enough script re-writes (or maybe too many?). The dialogue is laughable and laudable.

The writer's style is such that the lines are delivered in a very staccato style: A quips to B, B responds with quip to A. There are no real "conversations" in the movie, and it makes it had to develop any of the back-story of the characters. "Quips" about someone's past are usually quickly dismissed into the script, never to be seen again.

Some of the movie made me laugh, it was so poorly written. In a scene where a death occurs, there was no emotional outburst from their family member. It was crazy, and felt very rushed, like the director or writer was trying to push us forward quickly to the next scene, without slowing the camera down and exploring the actor's emotions.

Badly written. C-

Stomp the Yard (2007)

Fantastic - much better than other genre movies

[10/10 · 9 July 2007]

After reading the reviews here, I wasn't looking forward to this film at all. I'm glad I don't always listen to the ratings on IMDb.

Let's get over the fact that this genre has been over-done in the last few years and follows a typical plot line. This movie was cut together much better than Drumline, Save the Last Dance or Step Up. The other movies seemed like a less realistic portrayal. I didn't really feel like the lead roles were actually good drummers in the movie Drumline. In this movie, everyone feels like a good dancer, and it shows.

High points:

* It's clear they put a lot of time into learning the routines.

* The love story didn't feel forced, but well done by the actors and writers.

* The dancing clips were really well thought out - much better than "You Got Served".

* Didn't feel like a "black" movie - just a good movie with good actors.

Low points:

* The "conflict" towards the end of the film was too easily reversed.

* Lots of coincidences to make the plot work.

* Dragged a bit when practicing their step routines for the big competition.

Hollywoodland (2006)

Quite possible the most boring movie ever...

[4/10 · 31 March 2007]

The movie doesn't suffer from any technical defects - fortunately, it is shot quite well, the scenes and costumes are spot on, and the dialogue is nice. But it doesn't seem to take the user anywhere, in my opinion.

I'm sorry, but I must say that this is quite possibly the most boring movie I have watched in a long while. I did watch it all the way through, to be fair, but I found nothing memorable about the movie, and I will probably forget it tomorrow. It felt like it was trying to be a murder mystery, but there was not enough "mystery" to it.

Adrian Brody's acting was great - he shines in everything. Ben Affleck was alright, surprisingly - he pulled off "over-confident but likable".

If you like slow drama biopics set in the past, this might grab you. Ultimately I found it very flat.